Wednesday, January 30, 2013

R. W. Alley and Zoë B. Alley on today's Book Report with JJK!




R. W. Alley and Zoë B. Alley are on The Book Report with JJK today at 5:40pm ET / 2:40pm PT! As always, you can find my show on SiriusXM Kids Place Live, channel 78, within the Absolutely Mindy Show.

Here we are driving through the cornfields of Nebraska, where this interview was conducted!

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Minneapolis this Saturday!



I'll be heading out to Minneapolis this weekend to give readings and sign books in celebration of Kindergartners and their 1st library cards!

I hear it's balmy out there this time of year. I'll be sure to pack my board shorts and Hawaiian shirts!

Here's the info:


January 26 - 11am & 2pm
Roseville, MN -  Ramsey County Library


I'll pack my winter coat, too. Just in case...

Watch Jeanne Birdsall's TEDx Talk

Jeanne Birdsall reveals her cheerleader past, recounts her first broken heart and shares beautiful insight to finding that inner child. Whether or not you have read The Penderwicks, you will find this talk absolutely intriguing. But if you have read the books, you will only fall deeper in love with them.

This TEDx Talk is a must watch!

I'm very proud of my surrogate auntie!



Christopher Paolini on today's edition of The Book Report with JJK!


I had a few moments to catch up with Christopher Paolini while in DC this past fall. Did you know that we have the same editor? So Lunch Lady and Eragon are kind of like literary siblings.

Listen in to our chat today at 5:40 pm ET / 2:40 PT on SiriusXM's Kids Place Live, channel 78!

Wednesday, January 09, 2013

The Book Report with JJK returns today with Kevin Henkes!




I've been a huge fan of Kevin Henkes for years now. I'm proud to have met him a bunch of times over the years, but most thankful to have been able to sit down and really chat with him about his books.

Tune in today, January 9th, to The Book Report with JJK today at 5:40 pm EST / 2:40 pm EST to listen in! SiriusXM's Kids Place Live, channel 78!



my guest blog for TED.com - 10 modern book characters that will become classics




Today, I guest blog for TED.com! What modern characters will forever live in the hearts of the Krosoczka family?
Find out here!


This list of course is from just the first few years of our reading life as a family. There will be so many more fictional friends for my kids to meet as they grow and I can't wait to expand this list!

called up from the farm league, my TED talk is now on the main page of ted.com




Surreal doesn't even begin to describe this. Today, my TED talk is featured on the main page of ted.com. I'm so honored that the editors at TED curated my video to be featured here. I even have a profile page at ted.com. (Check that out here.)

Without a doubt, this is an accomplishment made possible through all of the overwhelming support you guys gave this vid on YouTube. My talk now has the official fancy TED intro and everything!



Tuesday, January 08, 2013

Where I'll be in the first half of 2013

2013 is here! I enjoyed some wonderful weeks with my family that was a bit of a "Digital Detox" as I completely logged off of all email and social media, but now it's time to crank up the ol' Internet machine for the new year.

I have a ton of exciting things to look forward to. I'm excited for you to meet new characters this year and be a part of the further adventures of current fictional friends. Lunch Lady and the Video Game Villain is on the horizon, as is Platypus Police Squad: The Frog Who Croaked, which will be begin a new chapter in my career.

I'll also be revving up the ol' radio machine again and will soon be broadcasting new episodes of The Book Report with JJK on SiriusXM's Kids Place Live. (Online archives of past installments are on their way!)



Below is a list of where you'll be able to find me in person. Please come on out and say hi!
(It's always a good idea to double check with the venue beforehand.)





January 12 - 12pm & 2pm 
New York, NY - Macy's Herald Square

A free copy of Ollie the Purple Elephant with every purchase of $25 or more from the Kids' Department!


January 26 - 11am & 2pm
Roseville, MN -  Ramsey County Library

A celebration of Kindergartners and their 1st library cards!

February 9 - 1pm
Amherst, MA - The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art

Jej Czekaj and I team up once again to bring you a punk/hip hop party for kids.


February 23 
Dublin, OH - Dublin Literary Conference



March 30 
Northampton, MA - MELTDOWN!

It's the 5th year for the rock/lit festival that Gina and I cofounded with WRSI The River!
This year we have Matt McElligott, Judy Schachner, Angela DiTerlizzi and Tony DiTerlizzi! Plus, Lunch Lady and the Video Game Villain will be released a few weeks early exclusively for this event!


April 4
Quincy, MA - Massachusetts Reading Association conference


April 9
Lunch Lady and the Video Game Villain publishes!!!





April 19 & 20
Bowling Green, KY - Southern Kentucky Book Festival


April 27 10am
Fort Worth, TX - Texas Library Association Conference
Visually Speaking: Why Graphic Novels Count


May 4
Houston, TX - Houston Public Library's Children's Book Celebration


May 7
Platypus Police Squad: The Frog Who Croaked publishes!


Dates to be added for an official PPS tour! Details in the coming weeks!

May 18
Knoxville, TN - Children's Festival of Reading


June 26
Ames, IA - Iowa Reading Conference


June 23
Chicago, IL - American Library Association
Krosoczka! Ten Apel! Telgemeier!  Graphic Novels Your Kids Love By Names You Can’t Pronounce  Moderated by Jon Scieszka


August 2
Los Angeles, CA - SCBWI International Conference